Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Eye-Strain
One health issue that can occur after using computers for a long time iseye-
strain (tiredness of the eyes).
In particular, typing and using a mouse for long periods are common causes
of RSI in the wrist (it is often called carpal-tunnel syndrome).
This problem can be solved:
• Use a wrist-rest to support the wrists while typing and when using the mouse.
• Take regular breaks from typing or using the mouse.
Trailing Cables
Computer equipment is often connected to lots of cables: power, network, etc.
If these cables are laying on the floor, they can cause people to trip over them
Solution: Place cables inside cable ducts, orunder the carpet / flooring
Spilt Drinks
or Food
If any liquids are spilt on electrical equipment, such a s a computer, it can result
in damage to the equipment, or an electric shock to the user.
Overloaded
Power Sockets
Plugging too many power cables into a socket can result in the socket
being overloaded, overheating, and a fire starting.
Solution: Never plug too many cables into a socket. Always make sure there are fire
extinguishers nearby
Heavy Objects
Falling
Many items of computer equipment are veryheavy: CRT monitors, laser printers, etc.
Heavy items can cause serious injury if they fall on people.
What is Hacking?
It is normally taken to mean breaking in to a computer system.
You should:
• Use strong passwords to protect your user login account
• Never reveal your login password to anyone else
• Place a firewall between your computer and any network
• Disconnect from networks when you are not using them
• Encrypt any sensitive information (just in case they get in)
What is Malware?
Malware is short for malicious software.
Malware is the name given to any software that could harm a computer system, interfere with a
user's data, or make the computer performactions without the owner's knowledge or permission.
Internet Developments
What is Web 2.0?
The original World-Wide Web ('The Web', WWW, or 'Web 1.0') was a collection of
mostly static websites that published information. You could visit the sites, read the
webpages, look at the pictures, but you couldn't really interact with the site: you
couldn't login, leave comments, tag images, discuss things, etc. The original Web was
a mostly one-way experience where information was delivered to you.
'Web 2.0' (pronounced "web two-point-oh") is the name given to the recent
development of interactive websites that are quite different to the old, static
websites.
Blogs can be personal (someone writing about their own life, or their personal
views), based on an interest (e.g. football), or some businesses also use blogs to write
about new products, etc.
A blog allows someone to be a writer and publisher on the Web with very little
effort or cost. A blog can be setup with just a few clicks, whereas a few years ago
you'd need a lot of technical knowledge to create your own website.
Many blogs have systems that allow readers to leave comments and begin discussions
connected with the blog posts.
Blogging (the act of writing a blog) has become very popular over the past decade or
so (there are well over 200 million unique blogs).
Some blogs are very popular and have hundreds of thousands of readers, but many are
only read by a tiny number of readers (probably just the writer's family and friends!)
Blogs allow people to publish their views and opinions very easily, without anyone
else checking what they are writing. For this reason, it is very important that you do
not take the viewpoints expressed on blogs as facts - they are just one
person's opinion and maybe factually very wrong.
The word 'blog' is an abbreviation of 'web log'.
A 'log' is a place where a list of information is written down, so a 'web log' is a place
where people write a list of things on the Web.
One form of blogging, where people publish very short posts, is known as 'Micro-
blogging'.
Wikis
A wiki is a website that allows users to collaborate (work together) to create the
content. The pages of a wiki can be edited by everyone (or those who have the
password) so that different people can add to the page, edit things, fix errors, etc.
Wikis often automatically create automatic links between pages. E.g. if a wiki page
exists called 'Camels' and you write the word 'camel', the word will become a link to
the Camel page. This feature means that wikis are very useful for creating sites
containing lots of connected information.
All media upload sites have rules about the type of media that you can upload - you
have to either own the copyright to the image / music / video yourself, or have
permission from the copyright owner.
The most famous video upload site is YouTube.
Social Networks
A social network website is a site that allows user to connect with other users who are
friends / relatives, or who share similar interests.
Connected users can then share information / pictures / files with each other, send
messages, chat, etc.